Thankful Thursday, Special Edition

Thanksgiving post, a little late. Despite not having to host a gathering, still a lot to accomplish. A lot of wishes and pleas this Thanksgiving, mainly for health and fortitude for loved ones, among all the things to be thankful for. Stressful times, they keep on coming. Good things and people keep us going.

Yesterday, while baking side dishes to share at a family gathering, I observed James and his sister at play. I love it when this happens. It was mainly KJS, their version of follow-the-(older sister)-leader.

James did really well with the math questions thrown at him. Zumba time on my old aerobics step was priceless to eavesdrop on. The game was is old Curious George memory game. Story time hit a detour and turned into ....

Adop-a-pet!

James his bedhead ... and Doug

Big Sister and Kitty Boy

Most fun baking ever! Hope everyone enjoyed a good day with family and friends.

Holiday Talking, Brought To You By the Letter "I"

Trying something a little new this year - talking about Thanksgiving and being thankful. A bit of a challenge when he's found the VHS tape of Sesame Street episodes I taped when he was a baby. He's focused on the subway scene at the end credits and why Big Bird has long legs.

We did manage to establish that Thanksgiving is when people give things like turkeys and chicken!

I explained that I am thankful for things like ... his smile, our family, a nice house, and good friends.

With a little prompting, James shared he's thankful for I Spy Treasure Hunt at the library.

Of course.

Magic Marker Monday: The Write Stuff

I try to get both children to write thank you notes. With their birthdays occurring so close to Christmas, it can be a challenge. I have found out that they do best if I get them to do about three at a sitting. They do not want to use pre-printed cards -- they want to make their own.

James, in particular, is excited to make them this year. He wanted to write his own thank yous. I dictated the letters an provided some guide lines, he did the reast. He even picked the colour of the paper for the cards and chose and placed the foam stickers on his own as well.

Materials:
* Handy Dandy Pad o' Construction Paper ($1 from the Dollar Store)
* Tub o' foam stickers (about $5 on sale from Michael's)
* Markers on sale from Target ($1 a box of 10)
* Misc. ball point pens

I found it was easier to have James write the message on the inside first before decorating the front. The foam stickers made an uneven surface for writing, and he kept making holes and got frustrated. Can I say how proud and happy I am that James can write his own Thank You cards?

His sister did a marvelous job as well. She detailed her presents in the front of the cards in design. I love how she put puzzles on the inside! Someone has been enjoying all those 3rd grade worksheets.

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

               
  

A Thankful Pause

I've put up my share of frustrated posts about people not understanding what a day in my life is like. How things that seem so simple to other parents are like mountain climbing with a hippo for me and mine. How there are some mainstream things we'll never be doing and concerns we have that many do not.

This one is a bit of the flip side, about being thankful for the people we've met who've become friends. Who know us and like us for being exactly how we are, not what we look like. I've been discovering a lot of them lately, when my husband's health crisis started to get really bad.

The kind and thoughtful people at both kids' schools, who helped with emails, calls, and information. Some of their thoughtful, unsolicited help literally brought tears to my eyes. Even while part of me was burning with shame to be in a position of needing help, most of me was so grateful that it was there, and kindly meant.

Ditto the nice people at our bank and credit union branches. Especially the big bank branch. I may hold your company in general and CEOs in low regard as opportunistic jerks, but you were my heroes who pulled out all the stops you could and made whatever possible work for me to help protect my family, and I won't forget it. You also remembered me weeks later, and asked especially how our holidays went. I could tell you were really, REALLY hoping they were good.

Our neighbours, who pitched in for a last-minute hour of sitting after bedtime, so I could handle an auxiliary emergency the week before Christmas. For being caring and friendly, making us glad (yet again) to belong to this community.

For friends, who were there for me and the kids, so I could be there for my husband. For texting and calling and helping me laugh. I am not going to forget how you helped. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

For my family, who has been having one of the most stressful and heart-breaking years we've ever known. For bailing me out, listening, venting, and trying to keep living as joyfully as possible. Our laughter may have a jagged edge or five, but there's love, and that lets me hold on tight and take a deep breath to see things through.

Magic Marker Monday: Colourful Gratitude

Well, that was quick! May zipped out the door so quickly, with end of school things to tie up, summer school to set up, and trips to finalize. I vowed I wouldn't do it, but I did: Made the thank you cards for the kids' teachers THE last day of class. Hey, at least I got the Starbucks cards in advance this year!

I have this big Perfection Roadblock that I set up and deal with by ... procrastinating until there is only time to barely get the job done. Gah.

I've gone fancy with blockprint cards & watercolours, but this year so far, I am still a fan of the coloured construction paper cutouts.

My daughter produced these for her teacher:


and whipped this one out for James' O.T. (she loved playing with the letter stamp/markers):



I really enjoyed the ones for the Speech Therapist and her aide -- just the other day she'd taken time to tell me how excited she was to see all the progress he'd made over the year. She also shared that she wished she could make one of her special version books of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, because James adored it:




James' aide got a special heart made by his sister:


and James helped write some of the card, including his name:



For his teacher, James wanted an animal, harkening back to Ag Days and the classroom's theme of "Mary's Lambs" -- he chose a chick (possibly still on that Chicka Chicka theme):



Using the simple materials makes this project fun, not a Perfection Headache. The kids get to see that they can personalize their Thank Yous while they play with pens, paper, and glue. This is a good thing, because we just came back from a week on the road, and I think we have another half dozen Thank Yous to go!

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.


  

Special Exp. / Wordless Weds: Thankful

James' face says it all about how he feels about the holidays:

He participated in so many activities this Thanksgiving: making cookies, decorating the house, and (a biggie) sitting at the table all through Thanksgiving dinner, chatting with his great-aunt and nibbling on chicken nuggets. He laughed and played with his cousins. For this and more, we are thankful.

For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

and ... Wordless Wednesday

Bright Colours

I love bright colours on James. They make him easy to spot and track in a crowd. They match his personality. I do not understand the concept of camouflage-patterned clothing for boys. I need to know what this guy is up to, and where he may be headed. The running away has tapered off, but he gets interested in many things and does not always stop and check in before he heads off to explore.

Hmmm, what to wear on Saturday at the Autism Walk? I think something red is a must for James. He loves to wear this colour. He's liked to wear yellow pullovers a lot this winter too, which brightens my day (although his smile is much brighter).

Thank you so much to everyone who's donated and supported us in this walk. It means so much!

Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Thank You!

Thank you, everyone! Because of your support, Powell's in Windsor had one of their most successful fundraising event days ever!

Even though James stayed home from school, finishing up a cold, he did enjoy getting a chance to be out in the warm morning sunshine, and enjoy a vanilla gelato on a bench with his mom and a friend.


For more great images or to join in the fun, Visit Wordless Wednesday

Special Exposure Wednesday is on a break this week. Sending good thoughts and prayers to a special little one this week instead.